Gail K Herman

Abigail Kart-Herman (Abbie or Gail), born in 1922, lived nearly 97 incredible years and throughout that time always remained upbeat and loving regardless of the situation that confronted her. She was born in Brooklyn, New York and later married and moved to Rego Park Queens, New York, and many years later retired to Lake Worth, Florida.

Along with the rest of her generation, she lived through the Great Depression as a teenager while her family barely survived on very limited resources. Then she lived through World War II and, by the time it was over, had married Oscar Kart and then had a child. Only 11 years later, when she was 38 years old, she had to struggle through another major setback when her husband Oscar was diagnosed on a Friday afternoon with a blood disorder and died unexpectedly on Sunday of acute leukemia. She was left a widow with young son. Again, she was living with very marginal resources.

With the help of her sister, Gail went back to school at night while working, graduated with honors in 1973, and became a dental hygienist and worked for New York City health system. She met Arnold Herman, and they married, and some years thereafter, in 1978, Gail and Arnold retired to a community in Lake Worth Florida where many relatives were also retiring. They enjoyed their many friends and relatives, hosted parties regularly, and went on numerous international trips. Upon Arnold’s passing in 2002, Gail lived for her friends and family and continued to spend time with charities that were meaningful to her. In the photo above she is seen speaking at an event at 73 years of age. Her son and his children had just moved to Florida and she participated in their lives until she passed, including dancing at her granddaughters’ Bat Mitzvah when Gail was nearly 90 years old.

Gail maintained her joy for life from her early twenties, into her seventies, and even to her nineties.

Congratulations on your spirit and a great life.

Gail was preceded in death by her husbands, and leaves her son Phil Kart and his wife Kristin, and two grandchildren, Rachel and Joshua.